Greatest Racehorses of All Time

These thoroughbreds brought out the best of what horse racing has to offer. They won lots of races, made lots of money and became world-famous.

Winston Churchill once remarked that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. At its best, horse racing embodies that spirit, with four-legged athletes streaking across the track and leaving thousands of two-legged spectators in awe.

Of course, like any competition based on speed, some horses are faster than others. The fastest win lots of races, make lots of money and become world famous.

These are the top thoroughbreds of all time, and they brought out the best of what horse racing has to offer.

Affirmed

Affirmed, with jockey Steve Cauthen, crosses the finish line to win the 104th running of the Kentucky Derby in 1978 in Louisville, Kentucky. The horse went on to win the Triple Crown that year. AP Photo

Born: Feb. 21, 1975

Died: Jan. 12, 2001

Career record: 29 starts, 22 wins

Earnings: $2,393,818

Bottom Line: Affirmed

Affirmed with jockey Laffit Pincay after winning the Santa Anita Handicap in 1979. Nick Ut / AP Photo

Affirmed became racing’s 11th Triple Crown winner in 1978.

In doing so, he repelled several challenges from longtime rival Alydar, who ran second in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

Affirmed may have been even better as a 4-year-old in 1979, when he won the last seven starts of his career (including six Grade 1 races).

American Pharoah

American Pharoah and jockey Victor Espinoza win the $750,000 Rebel Stakes horse race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 2015. Danny Johnston / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 2, 2012

Career record: 11 starts, 9 wins

Earnings: $8,650,300

Bottom Line: American Pharoah

Victor Espinoza rides American Pharoah to victory in the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby in 2015. David J. Phillip / AP Photo

After Affirmed’s Triple Crown sweep in 1978, it took nearly 40 years for another horse to accomplish the trifecta and win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

That thoroughbred was American Pharoah, who achieved the feat in 2015 while in the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

The horse retired in style later that year after cruising to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Arrogate

Arrogate, with Mike Smith aboard, set a track record winning the 2016 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Hans Pennink / AP Photo

Born: April 11, 2013

Career record: 11 starts, 7 wins

Earnings: $17,422,600

Bottom Line: Arrogate

Jockey Mike Smith and Arrogate cross the finish line to win the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Diane Bondareff / Invision for Longines/AP Images

Arrogate debuted late for a thoroughbred, in April 2016 of his 3-year-old year. But he quickly made up for the lost time.

Just four months after his beginning, he set a new track record in winning the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, which was the first of four straight Grade 1 wins for him.

This stretch included wins in the world’s three richest dirt races and ended with a last-to-first rally in the 2017 Dubai World Cup.

Black Caviar

Black Caviar, ridden by Luke Nolen, crosses the finishing post to win the TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia, in 2013. Rob Griffith / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 18, 2006

Career record: 25 starts, 25 wins

Earnings: $7,953,936

Bottom Line: Black Caviar

Black Caviar was the horse of a lifetime in Australia. The Versatile Gent – Boss Hunting / Facebook

Black Caviar is regarded as one of the best horses in Australian racing history. She was never beaten in 25 career starts.

Her legend was cemented when her connections shipped her to historic Royal Ascot for the 2012 Diamond Jubilee. Despite dealing with a trip of more than 11,000 miles and suffering several injuries during the race, Black Caviar got her nose down over a top-class group of sprinters.

Upon the unbeaten Australian mare’s retirement, her trainer Peter Moody admitted that the super sprinter “has done everything we asked her to do.”

California Chrome

California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, wins the 2016 Dubai World Cup horse race at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Martin Dokoupil / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 18, 2011

Career record: 27 starts, 16 wins

Earnings: $14,752,650

Bottom Line: California Chrome

Victor Espinoza rides California Chrome to victory in the 2014 Kentucky Derby. Morry Gash / AP Photo

California Chrome was racing’s ultimate “rags to riches” story. He had a modest pedigree, with connections unknown to all but the most hardcore racing fans.

The California-bred horse burst onto the scene with wins in the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

His campaign earned him Horse of the Year honors, and he won that trophy for a second time in 2016.

Cigar

Cigar, ridden by jockey Jerry Bailey, approaches the finish line to win four lengths ahead of a pack of five horses in the 56th Massachusetts Handicap race at Suffolk Downs in Boston in 1995. Steven Senne / AP Photo

Born: April 18, 1990

Died: Oct. 7, 2014

Career record: 33 starts, 19 wins

Earnings: $9,999,815

Bottom Line: Cigar

Jerry Bailey rides Cigar to victory in the 1996 Arlington Citation Challenge in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Jane Gibson / AP Photo

Much of the first half of Cigar’s career was unremarkable, winning just two of his first 12 starts.

But beginning in late 1994, the Bill Mott trainee went on one of the most dominant runs in the history of horse racing.

He won 16 consecutive races, including the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and earned Horse of the Year in both 1995 and 1996.

Citation

Citation in the winner’s circle at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California, in 1951. Standing with “Big Cy,” from left, are, owner Lucille Parker Wright, trainer Jimmy Jone (holding bridle), and exercise boy Freeman McMillen. AP Photo

Born: April 11, 1945

Died: Aug. 8, 1970

Career record: 45 starts, 32 wins

Earnings: $1,085,760

Bottom Line: Citation

Jockey Eddie Arcaro eases Citation across the finish line in the one-horse Pimlico Special in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1948. AP Photo

Calumet Farm was one of the most successful owners of the 1940s, and they capped off the decade by putting their silks atop Citation.

He won the Triple Crown in 1948 and set an American record by winning 16 consecutive races.

In 1951, Citation became the first thoroughbred ever to record more than $1 million in career earnings when he won that year’s Hollywood Gold Cup.

Curlin

Jockey Robby Albarado raises his whip aboard Curlin after they crossed the finish line to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 2007. Danny Johnston / AP Photo

Born: March 25, 2004

Career record: 16 starts, 11 wins

Earnings: $10,501,800

Bottom Line: Curlin

Curlin ridden by Robby Albarado passes Street Sense ridden by Calvin Borel to win the 132nd Preakness Stakes in 2007. Julie Jacobson / AP Photo

Up until Justify in 2018 (more on him later), no 3-year-old since Apollo in 1882 had won the Kentucky Derby without at least one start as a 2-year-old.

Many thought Curlin had a chance to break the famed Apollo Curse in 2007.

He settled for third that day, but wound up earning a pair of Horse of the Year titles in 2007 and 2008 after wins in the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Dubai World Cup (among other Grade 1 events).

Forego

Forego, a three-time Horse of the Year, left, edges out Master Derby at the finish of the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park in 1976. AP Photo

Born: April 30, 1970

Died: Aug. 27, 1997

Career record: 57 starts, 34 wins

Earnings: $1,938,957

Bottom Line: Forego

Forego in 1978. AP Photo

Secretariat is the best-known foal of 1970, but Forego’s trophy case may be just as distinguished.

The late-running gelding won Horse of the Year honors for three years in a row (1974 through 1976) and won a total of eight Eclipse Awards (given to the top horses in each division).

He won races ranging in distance from seven furlongs to two miles, and he was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 1979.

Frankel

Frankel, trained by Henry Cecil, is paraded after winning the Queen Anne Stakes on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting in Ascot, England, in 2012. Sang Tan / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 11, 2008

Career record: 14 starts, 14 wins

Earnings: £2,998,302 ($3,974,840)

Bottom Line: Frankel

Frankel ridden by Tom Queally at the start of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York Racecourse in York, England, in 2012. AP Photo

Named for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, this son of Galileo is considered one of the best horses in European racing history.

He was never defeated in 14 career starts, and Timeform (which ranks horses in that part of the world) made Frankel its highest-rated thoroughbred ever.

When he crossed under the wire in the 2012 Champion Stakes, which doubled as his final career start, the track announcer summed it up brilliantly: “All grounds, all comers, all beaten.”

Ghostzapper

Ghostzapper is the damsire (maternal grandfather) of Triple Crown hero Justify. Adena Stallions

Born: April 6, 2000

Career record: 11 starts, 9 wins

Earnings: $3,446,120

Bottom Line: Ghostzapper

Ghostzapper was the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. AfterFinishLine / Twitter

When Ghostzapper emerged from Bobby Frankel’s barn in the early 2000s, many thought he was a sprinter. He proved to be a good one, winning the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park.

But Frankel stretched him out in 2004. The result was a tour de force performance in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he set a track record for the race’s 1 1/2-mile distance.

“I told everyone, ‘This was the best horse I ever trained,’ ” Frankel once said.

Justify

Justify, with jockey Mike Smith, heads to the finish line to win the 2018 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California. Jae C. Hong / AP Photo

Born: March 28, 2015

Career record: 6 starts, 6 wins

Earnings: $3,798,000

Bottom Line: Justify

Justify, ridden by Mike Smith, wins the Triple Crown after finishing first in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes in 2018. Diane Bondareff / AP Images for Longines

Remember the Apollo Curse mentioned when we talked about Curlin? Justify took things several steps further in 2018.

Not only did he go from being an unraced 3-year-old to a Kentucky Derby winner in less than four months, but he went on to become horse racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner.

Justify was retired shortly after the Belmont, and we never got to see him run against older horses. We may never see such a rapid ascent to the top of the sport again.

Kelso

Kelso, right, after winning the Washington D.C. International Stakes in 1964. YouTube

Born: April 4, 1957

Died: Oct. 16, 1983

Career record: 63 starts, 39 wins

Earnings: $1,977,896

Bottom Line: Kelso

Kelso was a brilliant horse. AnEquineFemme / Twitter

A racing stalwart in the early-to-mid 1960s, Kelso set a career earnings record that stood for more than a decade (until Affirmed eclipsed the mark in the late 1970s).

A sizable portion of the total came in five renewals of New York’s then-flagship race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Kelso won that race every year from 1960 through 1964, each time capping off a Horse of the Year campaign.

Man o’ War

Jockey Clarence Kummer rides Man o’ War to the starting line for the 1920 Dwyer race at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. AP Photo

Born: March 29, 1917

Died: Nov. 1, 1947

Career record: 21 starts, 20 wins

Earnings: $249,465

Bottom Line: Man o’ War

Man O’ War in 1947. Martin Jessee

Man o’ War raced a century ago, yet is still regarded as one of the most accomplished thoroughbreds of all time.

He won some of the biggest races of his era, including two-thirds of the 1920 Triple Crown (he did not contest the Kentucky Derby), and that year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup.

His lone defeat, at the hands of Upset in the 1919 Sanford Stakes, helped establish Saratoga’s reputation as a “Graveyard of Champions.”

Rachel Alexandra

Rachel Alexandra, ridden by jockey Calvin Borel, wins the 2009 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Mike Groll / AP Photo

Born: Jan. 29, 2006

Career record: 19 starts, 13 wins

Earnings: $3,506,730

Bottom Line: Rachel Alexandra

Calvin Borel rides Rachel Alexandra during a horse race at Churchill Downs in 2010. Morry Gash / AP Photo

Rachel Alexandra fashioned one of the best campaigns ever by a 3-year-old filly in 2009.

After winning the Kentucky Oaks by more than 20 lengths, she was sold and transferred to trainer Steve Asmussen, who guided her to wins in the Preakness, the Mother Goose, the Haskell, and the Woodward Stakes.

The Woodward came against older males, and despite being forced to set a blistering pace, the younger filly defeated her male elders in one of the greatest performances in Saratoga history.

Ruffian

Ruffian with her jockey Jacinto Vazquez. Wikipedia

Born: April 17, 1972

Died: July 7, 1975

Career record: 11 starts, 10 wins

Earnings: $313,428

Bottom Line: Ruffian

Ruffian in May 1975. AP Photo

This one hurts. Ruffian may have been the best female racehorse of all time.

She eclipsed stakes-record times in all eight of her stakes victories, which came at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles.

Everything came to an unfortunate end in the summer of 1975, when she suffered fatal injuries in a match race against Foolish Pleasure, that year’s Kentucky Derby winner.

Seattle Slew

Jockey Jean Cruget celebrates after guiding Seattle Slew to victory in the 1977 Belmont Stakes to win horse racing’s Triple Crown. AP Photo

Born: Feb. 15, 1974

Died: May 7, 2002

Career record: 17 starts, 14 wins

Earnings: $1,208,726

Bottom Line: Seattle Slew

Jockey Jean Cruguet sits on Seattle Slew in the winner’s circle after winning 1977 Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. Standing second from left is Karen Taylor, owner of Seattle Slew. Third from left is her husband, Mickey. AP Photo

Seattle Slew became racing’s 10th Triple Crown winner in 1977.

In doing so, he became the first horse to capture the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont without a single loss on his ledger (and remains one of only two thoroughbreds to do so, along with Justify).

Seattle Slew went on to a stellar 1978 campaign that included wins in the Marlboro Cup and Woodward Stakes.

He entered racing’s Hall of Fame in 1981.

Secretariat

Secretariat, with jockey Ron Turcotte, works out at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in 1973. Horst Schafer / AP Photo

Born: March 30, 1970

Died: Oct. 4, 1989

Career record: 21 starts, 16 wins

Earnings: $1,316,808

Bottom Line: Secretariat

Secretariat became the ninth horse to win racing’s Triple Crown in 1973. AP Photo

There are many different angles we can take to dissect Secretariat’s historical significance.

He won Horse of the Year honors twice.

He ran each quarter-mile of the Kentucky Derby faster than the one before it.

He went from last to first in a sixteenth of a mile in the Preakness Stakes.

And then he won the Belmont by 31 lengths in a track-record time that has yet to be threatened.

At any rate, any list of top horses of all time that doesn’t have Secretariat on it is an incomplete list.

Spectacular Bid

Spectacular Bid, with Ronald Franklin up, wears the roses in the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs in 1979. AP Photo

Born: Feb. 17, 1976

Died: June 9, 2003

Career record: 30 starts, 26 wins

Earnings: $2,781,608

Bottom Line: Spectacular Bid

Spectacular Bid, ridden jockey Ronnie Franklin, wins the 1979 Kentucky Derby. AP Photo

Trainer Bud Delp remarked that he thought Spectacular Bid was the best horse to ever look through a bridle. That’s incredibly high praise, but if Delp was off, it wasn’t by much.

Spectacular Bid won two-thirds of the 1979 Triple Crown, and many feel a poor ride by an inexperienced jockey cost him that year’s Belmont Stakes.

As a 4-year-old, Spectacular Bid won all nine of his races, including a rare walkover against zero opponents in the 1980 Woodward Stakes.

Sunday Silence

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela rests aboard Sunday Silence in the victory circle at Churchill Downs after winning the 1989 Kentucky Derby. Ed Reinke / AP Photo

Born: March 25, 1986

Died: Aug. 19, 2002

Career record: 14 starts, 9 wins

Earnings: $4,968,554

Bottom Line: Sunday Silence

Sunday Silence, with Pat Valenzuela, on the way to winning the 1989 Preakness Stakes. Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

Sunday Silence was part of one of the biggest rivalries in horse racing history.

In 1989, he locked up with Easy Goer four times. While Easy Goer thumped him in the Belmont Stakes, Sunday Silence got the better of him in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Breeders’ Cup Classic, which ultimately earned him that year’s Horse of the Year trophy.

To this day, racing fans debate which horse was better.

Tiznow

Tiznow was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2009. Horse racing news / Facebook

Born: March 12, 1997

Career record: 15 starts, 8 wins

Earnings: $6,427,830

Bottom Line: Tiznow

Tiznow is one of the great ones. WinStarFarm / Twitter

Since 1984, the Breeders’ Cup Classic has acted as horse racing’s season finale of sorts. Only one horse has won the race twice. That’s Tiznow, who pulled it off in 2000 and 2001.

On both occasions, he fended off highly regarded European imports.

The 2001 renewal at New York’s Belmont Park took place mere weeks after the 9/11 attacks, and that Classic saw him edge Sakhee, with track announcer Tom Durkin punctuating the call with the phrase, “Tiznow wins it for America!”

Whirlaway

Whirlaway, with jockey Eddie Arcaro, in the winner’s circle at Belmont Park after winning the 1941 Belmont Stakes. AP Photo

Born: April 2, 1938

Died: April 6, 1953

Career Record: 60 starts, 32 wins

Earnings: $561,161

Bottom Line: Whirlaway

Whirlaway, left, races to a half-length victory in the Washington handicap in Laurel, Maryland, in 1942. HG / AP Photo

Whirlaway was an incredibly talented horse that swept the 1941 Triple Crown, and to this day, he’s the only Triple Crown winner to also annex Saratoga’s Travers Stakes.

However, he was also known for his quirks, and it took masterful work by trainer Ben Jones to have him ready to run. Most notably, Jones put himself on horseback 10 feet from the rail for Whirlaway’s final workout prior to the Kentucky Derby and instructed jockey Eddie Arcaro to ride the horse through the opening.

The jockey followed his orders, and Whirlaway wound up winning the Derby by eight lengths.

Winx

Winx with jockey Hugh Bowman. YouTube

Born: Sept. 14, 2011

Career record: 41starts, 35 wins (still active)

Earnings: A$22,934,924 ($16,208,427)

Bottom Line: Winx

Winx is horse racing legend. WINX – official / Facebook

Australian superstar Winx picked up where Black Caviar left off.

Winx lost several races near the start of her career but has emerged as an unstoppable force over the past few years, winning 31 consecutive races (as of this writing).

This record includes four consecutive renewals of the Cox Plate (one of the continent’s biggest races), which she has won every year since 2015.

Wise Dan

Wise Dan, with jockey John Velazquez aboard, rolls to victory in the $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in 2011. Garry Jones / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 20, 2007

Career record: 31 starts, 23 wins

Earnings: $7,552,920

Bottom Line: Wise Dan

Wise Dan, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, crosses the finish line to win the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Gregory Bull / AP Photo

A fiery gelding with an affinity for turf, Wise Dan won back-to-back renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2012 and 2013.

He was named Horse of the Year following both campaigns, and a stakes race at Churchill Downs already bears his name.

Additionally, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has said he considers Wise Dan to be the best horse he’s ever ridden.

Zenyatta

Jockey Mike Smith rides Zenyatta during the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Jae C. Hong, / AP Photo

Born: April 1, 2004

Career record: 20 starts, 19 wins

Earnings: $7,304,580

Bottom Line: Zenyatta

Jockey Mike Smith aboard Zenyatta crosses the finish line to win the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Chris Carlson / AP Photo

Zenyatta is one of the most popular horses of all time, and for good reason. She won the first 19 starts of her career, a stretch that included a heart-stopping victory in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

While a perfect ending was denied by a narrow defeat in the 2010 Classic, a statue at Santa Anita Park bears her likeness, and she earned a spot in racing’s Hall of Fame in 2016.